Parts treating machine



April 4, 196i T. w. JACKSON 2,978,229

PARTS TREATING MACHINE 1y, Filed 001'.. 29, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

homw Ufa/650m mv/ww prll 4, 1961 T, W JACKSON 2,978,229

PARTS TREATING MACHINE Filed Oct. 29, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

vliquid or uid with all of the parts under treatment.

-It is `known to treat machine parts and various other articles by tumbling in a rotating drum or cylinder having openings or perforations for discharge of the treating liquid or uid. The parts so treated are usually of appreciable size and free of points or small projections,-

such that they vwill not become caught in` the perforations or openings of the cylinder and cause objectionable clogging thereof with resultant lslowing down or inter-` ference with the treating operation. In treating small parts, particularly small nails, screws,y tacks Vand other small pointed parts, diiculty is encountered due to the fact that such parts enter the openingsV or perforations in the treating. cylinder and quickly clog` it to such extent as to either completely prevent, or seriously interfere with, travel through the cylinder of the articles under` treatment. Thesame difficulty is encountered .in treating larger parts having points or small projections which can enter `the openings or perforations of thev `treating drumor cylinder. For that reason it has not been practicable to treat parts of the character referred to in `bulk in rotating cylinders having openings or perforations for discharge ofthe treating liquid orV iuid and, so far as I am aware, that has never-been satisfactorily and successfully accomplished. p

My invention is directed to a machine which avoids the diiculties above mentioned in respect to thepresently known treating machines above referred to and renders possible satisfactory treatment in bulk of partsof the character stated,A in a rotating drum or cylinder having perforations or openings for discharge of the `treating liquid or fluid. To that end l provide a rotating drum or cylinder having selected areas thereof provided with openings or perforatons, such areas being .shielded by means effectivelyv guarding against small parts, or small points or projections of llarger parts, entering the openings or perforations while assuring ready ow therethrough of i the treating liquid or fluid.. vMore specifically, the perforated areas of the cylinder wallare shielded by baffles overlying such areas and spaced inwardly therefrom,

i the baflles` provid-ing in conjunction with theV cylinder wall spaces opening into the cylinder at their following sides and being otherwise closed to the cylinder. The baffles provide effective reinforcement for the-cylinder i structure and preferably, though not necessarily, are provided with stiffening and reinforcing elements which also vfunction as deectors for agitating the articles under treatment to assure contact therewith of the treating liquid or fluid.` The machine of my invention will, be described as used for Washing small parts, by way of example. only, though-it may be used for various other purposes, as above noted. Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the detail description.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side view of a parts treating machine embodying ymy invention@ f v Figure `2 is anr end view "of the machine of;Figure l, as seen from'the dischargeI en d; -Y Y ares arent Figure 3 is a plan view, on an enlarged scale, of

the discharge end portion of the treating cylinder structure of the machine of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on line 4--4 of Figure 3; i

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Figure 4; and

Figure 6` is a sectional view similar to Figure 5 but showing a modied form of my invention.

The machine shown in Figures l and 2 is, in general, of known construction, except as to the parts thereof having to do particularly with my invention, and a brief description thereof will suffice. It comprises a suitable housing 10 the lower portion of which constitutes a tank for receiving a washing solution or other liquid used in treatmentof the parts, as will be explained more fully later. lA two compartment tank 1.1 is provided at one side of housing 1t) and includes a tank 12 for a washing solution and a tank 13 for a rinsing solution or liquid, the tanks 12 and 13 being separated by a partition 14. The housing i0 is provided with a removable top or cover 1S of arcuate cross section which overlies a treating cylinder 16 extending lengthwise of housing 10 and disposed above the tank in the lower portion of the housing. Thecylinder 16 is shown as disposed horizontally lengthwise, though it may be disposed in any suitable position, and is rotatably supported in a suitable manner. Conveniently the cylinder is rotatably supported by rollers 17 mounted in brackets 1S secured to frame members of housing 1i),V Vthe rollers being disposed adjacent each end of cylinder 16 and receiving appropriately formed tires or bands 19 secured on cylinder 16 exteriorly thereof. lt will be understood that cylinder 16 may be rotatably supported at intermediate points, if desired' or necessary, and may be rotatably supported in any suitable `therethrough by means of a helical strip 21 Vsecured interiorly of cylinder 16, tothe other or discharge end'at which the treated articles may be dischargedrinto suitable receptacles or onto a conveyor, as is known. The cylin- .output shaft 25 of a speed reducer unit 26 ofrsuitable known type the input shaft of which is driven by an electric motor 27 by means of a V belt and pulley drive 28. As will be understood, the cylinder 16 may be driven in any suitable manner. As is showniin the drawings, the helical strip 2,1 is continuous and seats on the inner face of cylinder 16 for the full circumference thereof, to which it is secured in any suitable manner, conveniently by welding. vThat effectively eliminates possibility of jammingv of articles under treatment between the strip 21 and thecylinder wall and expedites flow of the articles through the cylinder, conducive to large capacity and smooth operation. considerably less than the radius of cylinder 16 leaving an unobstructed cylindrical opening of substantial diameter extending from endV to end of the' cylinder. A Washing fluid spray pipe 29 extends into cylinder 16 from the feed end thereof and is provided, for approximately two-fifths of its length within cylinder 16, with suitably disposed spray openings or perforations. A rinsing uid spray pipe Sil extends into cylinder 16 through the discharge end thereof and is provided, with aplu.- rality of suitably disposed spray openings or perforationS, it being Vnotedthat the spray pipe 3 0i is of consider- The width of the helical strip 21 is Y 3 ably greater length than the spray pipe 29, the perforated area of each of the pipes being located at the inner portion thereof.

It may-be assumed, for purposes of description, that the machine is used for washing small parts,` such as nails, for example, which may be coated with oil or grease with adhering small particles of metal cuttings.

The tank 12 contains an alkaline washing solution which is withdrawn therefrom and delivered to the spray pipe 29, under appropriate pressure, by a pump 31 driven by an electric motor 32. The rinse liquid, which may be either a suitable solution, or clear water, is withdrawn from tank 13 and delivered to spray pipe 30 under appropriate pressure, by means of a pump 33 driven by an electric motor 34. The parts are washed in the rst section of the cylinder and are rinsed in the succeeding section thereof, the wash and rinse liquid passing through openings in cylinder 16 into the tank in the lower portion of housing 1t). The section of cylinder 16 beyond the rinse spray area is a drying section in which the liquid is drained from the articles and they are dried by their own heat, it being understood that the washing solution and the spray liquid may be heated to a comparatively high temperature. If desired, heated air may be delivered to the cylinder 16 through the discharge end thereof, by means of Va suitably located conduit, as is known. The construction and operation of the machine so far described is, in general, known. vSuch known machines are not suitable for treating small parts such as nails and analogous parts previously referred to, orlarger parts having points or small projections such as would enter the perforations or openings in the cylinder wall, the primary object of my invention being to provide a machine suitable for treating such parts in bulk, as previously stated. i

In washing machines of the type above described, the cylinder is perforated throughout its full circumference for discharge therefrom of the treating fluid or liquid, and is not provided with means preventing entry of points or small projections of the parts under treatment into the cylinder openings or perforations. Such machines are not suitable for treating small parts, or larger `parts having points or small projections, as and for the larger parts, under treatment entering the perforations of the cylinder while assuring free discharge therefrom of the treating liquid or iiuid. As has been indicated, my invention has to do particularly with the structure of the cylinder for treating parts of the character previously mentioned. Referring to Figures 3, 4 and 5, I provide a cylinder structure comprising the cylinder 16 within which is secured the helical strip 21 of considerably less width than the radius of cylinder 516, strip 21 being suitably secured to the inner face ofthe cylinder wall, conveniently by welding. The cylinder wall is provided with substantially rectangular perforated areas 38 spaced apart circumferentially thereof by intervening irnperforate areas 46 and each constituting a segment of the circumference of cylinder v16, each of the imperforate areas also constituting a segment of the circumference of cylinder 16 and having a-smooth and unobstructed inner surface. Each of the perforated areas 38 is of substantial extent both lengthwise and circumferentially of cylinder 16, includes a plurality of perforations, and is guarded by a baffle member-39 which, like the corresponding perperforated area 38 and extends from one convolution of the strip 21 tothe 'next adjacent convolution thereof the ends of baie 39 being secured, conveniently byn welding,

to the convolutions of strip 21. The bafElleS 39 reinforce the stripV 21 and, in cooperation with the latter, reinforce the wall of cylinder 16. The cylinder 16 is rotated at moderate speed counter-clockwise, as viewed in Figure 4 and indicated by the arrow'40, in the manner previously described in respect to Figures l and 2. Each of the baille members 39Y is preferably, though not necessarily, provided at the leading side thereof with a lengthwise rib 41 of substantially rounded V cross section extending radially inward ,of cylinder 16 beyond the main or body portion of baille member 39, the leading arm or wall of member 39 extending to the wall of cylinder 16, at the leading side of the perforated area 38, and being secured tothe cylinder wall in a suitable manner, Vconveniently by being welded thereto at 42. 'Ille bafe member 39 defines, in cooperation with the corresponding convolutions of strip 21 and the perforated area 38 of the wall of vcylinder 16, a space 43 which opens at its following side, at 44, into the interior of cylinder 16 and is otherwise closed thereto. During rotation of the cylinder structure, the bales 39 effectively guard against` access of the small parts under treatment to the perforated areas of the cylinder wall and the spaces 43 opening at their following sides into the cylinder assure discharge therefrom, Vthrough the perforated areas 38, of the treating lluid or liquid. During rotation of the cylinder structure the nails or other parts under treatment seek the lower portion of the cylinder and are directed inward radially thereof by the ribsr41, over which the parts flow onto the main portion or body of the respective bafe members 39, so as to be effectively tumbled and agitated in a manner assuring that all of the parts under treatment will be exposed to the treating fluid or liquid, as will be understood from Figure 4 in which the deflecting and tumbling of the nails by the ribs 41 is indicated. The bafe members 39 effectively guard against access of the parts under treatment to the perforated areas ofthe cylinder wall, thereby effectively assuring that such parts cannot enter the perforations of such areas, and do not interfere to any objectionable extent with discharge from the cylinderY structure of the treating iluid or, liquid. The baille members 39 also effectively reinforce the cylinder structure, the ribs 41 imparting desirable rigidity to the baille members and additional mechanical strength while also functioning as means for imparting desirable agitation and tumbling ,to the Yparts under treatment, as above explained. When the machine is used for treating small parts, as above described by way of example, the perforations of the spray pipes 29 and 30. preferably are directed substantially horizontally toward theY upwardly travelling Vside of the cylinder to wash from themembers 39, toward the following edges thereof, any of the small articles which may adhereto baffle members '39. 4

In the form of cylinder structure shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5, the perforated areas 38 of the cylinder wall maybe continuous lengthwise thereof and across the radially outer edges of a plurality of convolutions ofthe strip 21, as shown in Figure 3. In the inofdiiied form of cylinder structure shown in Figure 6, the wall of cylinder 16a is provided with perforatedY areas 38a of less length Ythan the distance between two adjacent convolutionsr of the helical strip 21 and the'baiile members 39a are provided with end walls 39b extending tothe cylinderwall and secured thereto,A conveniently by welding, at the ends of the perforated areas 38a.- The baille members39a are provided at' their, leading sides with ribs41a, as before, theleading arms of which are welded to the cylinder wall at 42m- The bafe members 39a provide, in cooperation with the perforated areas 38a of the cylinder wall spaces 43a opening at their following sides, at 44a, into the interior of the` cylinder r16a and 'otherwise closed thereto; `Theoperation of the machine embodying the modified form ;of cylinder-structure shown in Figure`6, is'essentially the same asthat lofV the machine embodying the cylinder structure shown in .Figures 3, 4 and 5, and need not be described in greater detail.

Y In either case the bathe members effectively prevent access of small parts being treated to the perforated areas of the cylinder wall, thereby guarding against possibility of such parts entering or becoming caught in the perforations of the cylinder wall, while assuring the discharge from the cylinder of the treating fluid or liquid in adequate volume. I

Preferably, the baffle members 39 and 39a are disposed concentrically with the cylinder wall, as shown, so as not to obstruct the interior of the cylinder to appreciable extent, though they may be disposed in any other suitable manner, within the broader concept of my invention.

I have describedthe machine of my invention as used for washing small parts, by way of example, but it is also Well suited for otherwise treating either small parts or larger parts of a character such thatfthey might become caught in the cylinder openings or perforations of the previously known machines. If desired the cylinder 16 may be used throughout its length for subjecting the parts to one treatment only, the articles treated in cylinder 16 being subjected, if desired, to further treatment in separate apparatus. It willbe understood that the perforations of the spray pipes, when used, may be suitably disposed in accordance with the parts under treatment. In treating certain parts the ribs 4l or 41a of the baffle members 39 or 39a may be omitted, as indicated above, and, if used may be formed to act to best advantage on the articles under treatment. As indicated, instead of the spray pipes 29 and Sti any suitable means maybe provided for supplying to the cylinder 16 any suitable liquid or huid for treatment of the articles.

In both forms' of cylinder shown the perforated areas are of substantial extent both lengthwise and circumferentially of the cylinder and respectively include a large number of perforations, the baie members are concentric with and in proximity to the perforated areas, `and the imperforate areas have smooth and unobstructed inner surfaces. Accordingly, during rotation of the cylinder, the parts under treatment are agitated sufficiently' for effecting the desired treatment and objectionablyl violent agitation of lthe articles, such as might cause entry i sorted to without departing from the field and scope of my invention, and I intend toinclude all such variations, as fall within the. scope of the appended claims, in this application inwhich the preferred forms only of my invention have been disclosed.

I claim:

A1. In aparts treating machine, a rotatably mountedY cylinder having a lfeed end and a discharge endjopen for discharge ofthe treated articles,-mea'ns for rotating said and extending therefrom at an inclination in the direction of rotation of said cylinder, said bafe members except for said ribs thereof being substantially concentric With the cylinder wall defining therewith spaces closed at their leading sides and their ends and open at their following sides for free flow of fluid through said spaces and perforated areas while guarding against entry into said spaces of articles under treatment. t

2. In a parts treating machine, a rotatably mounted cylinder having a feed end and a discharge end open for discharge of the treated articles, means for rotating said cylinder in one direction, a continuous helical strip seating on and secured to the inner face of` said cylinder for the full circumference thereof and disposed to propel articles under treatment toward the discharge end of said cylinder during rotation thereof in said one direction, the wall of said cylinder being provided with preforated areas spaced apart circumferentially thereof, means for supplying treating lfluid to said cylinder, and imperforate baffle members overlying said perforated areas spaced inwardly of said cylinder therefrom and respectively having at their leading sides a lengthwise reinforcing rib of substantially V shape in cross section extending inwardly of said cylinder, said baffle members extending between adjacent convolutions of said strip with their ends secured to said adjacent convolutions and their leading sides extended to the cylinder wall and secured thereto providing reinforcement for the latter and for said convolutions of said stripsaid bafiie members except for said ribs thereof being substantially concentric with the cylinder wall and defining therewith and with the contiguous portions of said adjacent convolutions, spaces closed at their leading sides and ends and open at their following sides for free flow of fluid through said spaces and perforated areas while guarding against entry into said spaces of articles under treatment.

3. In a parts treating machine, a rotatably mounted cylinder having a feed end and a discharge end open for discharge of the treated articles, means for rotatingsaid cylinder in one direction, a continuous helical strip seating on and secured to the inner face of said cylinder for the full circumference thereof and disposed to propel articles under treatment toward the discharge end of said cylinder during rotation thereof in said one direction, the wall of said cylinder being provided with substantially rectangular perforated areas of substantial extent both lengthwise and circumferentially of said cylinder and respectively including a plurality of perforations, said perforated areas being spaced apart circumferentially of said cylinder by intervening substantially rectangular imperforate areas of substantial extent having smooth and unobstructed inner cylinderin one direction, a continuous helical strip seatf ing on and secured'tothe inner fac'e of said cylinder for the `full circumference thereof andy disposed to propel' articles under treatmentftoward the dischargeend of said cylinder during rotation thereofin said onel direction,

the wall of said cylinder being provided with perforated j disposedr between adjacent convlutions ofisaidstrip and 4 areas spaced apart circumferentially,thereof,rneans for?` g supplying treating fluid to jsaid cylinderyand imperforate f fbaflie Vmembers Vsecured to thein'ner, face'of said cylinder` surfaces, means for supplying ltreating fluid to said cylinder, and imperforate substantially rectangular baflie members securedto the inner face of said cyinder disposed between adjacent convolutions ofsaid strip, said bafe members being substantially coextensivewith and overlying said perforated areas in proximity and substantially concentric spaced relationu-thereto defining therewith spaces closedat their leading sides and ends and'open at their following sides for free ow of fluid through said 'spaces whileguarding against entry into said spaces ofV articles under treatmentt i ReferencesvCted in the file of this patent Y l. Y j UNITED STATES PATENTS 649,152 Annandale May 8, 1900 V1,009,225 'Cummerc` Nov. 21, 1911 1,464,7221', i. Miscampbell Aug. 14, 1923` l 1,732,819 jPehrson Oct. 22, Y1929..y 

